Disaster Medical Specialists treat people in case of emergencies, casualties and natural disasters. They also oversee treatment at the disaster scenes and ensure transportation of victims to hospitals or any other medical facilities for further treatment. They are entrusted with the task of providing accurate report to the physicians and surgeons to ensure patients’ well being.
Educational Requirements: A Diploma or Associate’s Degree in Medicine, is the entry level education to become a Disaster Medical Specialist. Many employers prefer a Bachelor’s Degree with a specialization in emergency care. It’s always advisable for the aspiring Disaster Medical Specialists to get the basic medical education plus on-the-job training to boost their career.
Medical School Training: A four-year medical school training may cover courses such as physics, chemistry, biology etc. along with English.
Residency Programs: Followed by a medical school training, the aspiring Disaster Medical Specialists need to go for residency programs, which usually take 3-4 years. They are required to complete field and classroom training and visit the sites to assist the disaster victims during the program.
Certification: Certification courses and proper training help the medical professionals become Disaster Medical Specialists. The American Academy of Disaster Medicine and American Board of Physician Specialties provide the certification programs.
Key Challenges:
Get updated about the recent happenings in your vicinity and collect the data on natural disasters to keep yourself prepared for any eventuality.
Learn how to use medical supplies and pain killers to provide immediate relief to the victims at the disaster site.
While visiting the disaster scenes, make yourself equipped with medical supplies such as oxygen kit, life-saving medicines, intravenous fluids etc.
Regular inspections of medical supplies and equipments to suggest improvements if any.
Consult with physicians and surgeons to offer assistance being the first point of contact with the patients.
Salary & Job Outlook: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a Disaster Medical Specialist earns approximately $150,000 to $300,000 per year.The job outlook remains bright because of rising number of natural disasters and emergencies.